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The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not rest only on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were subdued all match by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left by the youngster. The defender met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.